The Qualifying Examinations test the knowledge and musicianship DMA students have developed over the entire course of their musical career, from the bachelor’s degree to the end of doctoral coursework.
Qualifying Exams are separated into two parts. Part One consists of written examinations in Music Theory and Music History. Part Two consists of a written examination in the performance area of study, submission of the prospectus brief, and an oral exam.
Students must pass both components of Part One of the Qualifying Exams before attempting Part Two. Students must pass Part Two of the Qualifying Exams by the spring quarter of the fourth year of registration to achieve candidacy.
The written exams in Music Theory and Music History are offered twice per year, typically fall and spring quarters. Specific dates are available from Graduate Services early in the academic year. Sample exams are available from Graduate Services.
The DMA Qualifying Exam in Music History tests knowledge of musical style and historical contexts in the Western tradition from the later Middle Ages (ca. 1250) to the present. In addition to the required MUSICOL 400 Graduate Review of Music History course, students should pursue further coursework in historical periods where their preparation is weak. For purposes of review, students are advised to study a high-caliber textbook (Taruskin Oxford History of Western Music; Grout/Palisca/Burkholder History of Western Music), and either a wide variety of scores or a collection such as the Norton Anthology of Western Music.
The examination includes four types of essay questions:
Short responses demonstrating command of historical facts; knowledge about genres, standard repertoire, and major composers; and understanding of historically appropriate terminology.
Longer essays requiring synthesis of a broader range of information and ideas across multiple historical periods, and demonstrating skills of written organization and argument.
Listening identifications, requiring students to respond to audio examples with attributions by period, genre, style, and possible composers, and to justify these responses with description and analysis of key musical details.
Score identifications, requiring responses similar to those in item #3 above, on the basis of score excerpts.
The DMA Qualifying Exam in Music Theory tests knowledge of musical scores and styles from an analytical perspective. Questions combine essay answers and score analysis. Students should review a variety of scores and anthologies of Western art music from its earliest days to the present. Suggested sources are below.
Caplin, W. Analyzing Classical Form, Oxford University Press, 2013
Gauldin, R. Practical Approach To 18th Century Counterpoint, Waveland Press, 2013
Harrison, D. Harmonic Function in Chromatic Music, University of Chicago Press, 2010
Schubert, P and Neidhofer, C. Baroque Counterpoint, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006
Straus, J. Introduction to Post-Tonal Theory, W.W. Norton and Company, 2016
Review Topics
Basic Concepts of Tone and Notation of Pitch
Pitch contour
Interval construction
Clefs, including common C clefs
Key signatures
Scales (major and minor), pentatonic, chromatic
Modes
Tone Duration
Note value
Meter, tempo
Compound meter, mixed meters
Melodic rhythm
Irregular beat divisions
Harmonic Concept
Chord constructions
Triadic function
Harmonic cadences
Passing tones and pedal point
Figures bass symbols
Modulation
Key change
Key digression
Chromaticism
Texture
Monophony, homophony, and counterpoint
Orchestration, transposing instruments, and score realization
Basics of Form
Phrases and phrase structure
Motives and motivic use in form
Part Forms
Two and three part forms
Rondo
Variation
Contrapuntal Forms
Canon, motet, madrigal, chorale prelude
Fugue
Twentieth-Century Theory
Atonality and serial compositions
Notational conventions
Large-Scale Forms and Multi-Movement
Dance suite
Sonata
Sonata allegro
Concerto
Music Theory in Helping Define Musical Style
See Music History topics in preceding section
Styles of Western Art Music
Jazz
Popular music
Musics of other cultures
Sample Qualifying Exam Questions and Essay Topics
- For each of the scores provided, identify the period in which it was most likely written, the type of composition, and a possible composer. Please make note of stylistic features that support your identification.
- Describe the works from the standpoint of structural features (i.e., form, tonality, harmony, and other musical features). Make appropriate analytical markings in the score that support your points.
- Using your personal performance repertoire, choose two works of substantial length (minimum 15 minutes of performance time) from contrasting style periods and describe the works theoretically. Describe how this knowledge helps in the performance of these works.
DMA students may waive the Music Theory Qualifying Exam by successfully completing three approved Music Theory courses over the two years of coursework, earning a B or higher in each course. The approved Music Theory courses for the waiver change each year. The courses count as Music Studies Electives, count toward the Music Theory Cognate, and at the 400 level or above, count toward the extra coursework required for the Extra Coursework Final Project.
Students who do not waive the Music Theory Qualifying Exam must attempt the exam in the first year of continuation.
For 2024-2025, the approved courses eligible for the Music Theory wavier are:
Fall 2024
- MUS_THRY 316 16th C Counterpoint
- MUS THRY 325/425 Style and Phrase
- MUS_THRY 335/435 19th C Analysis
- MUS_THRY 335/435 Mozart’s Operas
Winter 2025
- MUS_THRY 318 18th C Counterpoint
- MUS THRY 335/435 Theory of Melody
- MUS THRY 355 Analysis of Post Tonal Music
Spring 2025
- MUS_THRY 313/413 Analytical Approaches to World Music
- MUS_THRY 321/421 Classical Form
- MUS_THRY 335/435 Brahms Late Piano Music
- MUS_THRY 422 Rhythm and Meter
Upon successful completion of the Music Theory and Music History Qualifying Exams (Part One), students may schedule Part Two, the Written Performance Area Exam and Oral Exam.
Students must submit a Prospectus Brief to their committee prior to scheduling the Oral Exam.
The nature of this comprehensive exam is determined by each program and faculty member. Students should seek advice about preparation and scheduling from the applied lessons professor or program coordinator. Students should be prepared to discuss their responses to this exam at the Oral Exam.
The Prospectus Brief (i.e., proposal) outlines the purpose and goals of the intended research for the Final Project document, and specifies how the document is going to be organized. A substantive bibliography must be attached, and the listing of primary and secondary sources should be presented in standard bibliographic form.
Sample Prospectus Briefs are available upon request from Graduate Services.
Students must submit the Prospectus Brief and receive committee approval at the Oral Exam before any writing or research may begin.
The Oral Exam must occur within 10 days of the Written Performance Area Exam. Students must submit the Prospectus Brief one week before the Oral Exam. All members of the committee must attend the Oral Exam, which is typically 90 minutes long.
At the Oral Exam, students should expect to –
- Discuss and answer questions on their responses on the Written Performance Area Exam. This section provides the student opportunities to display comprehensive understanding and knowledge of music, as well as specifics in the major area.
- Discuss the proposal for research with the committee based on the submitted Prospectus Brief. The committee provides guidance on how to revise, adjust, or proceed with writing the Final Project document.
If all or part of either the Written Performance Area Exam or the Oral Exam proves unsatisfactory, the student may ask to be re-examined after a reasonable review period. If any part of the second Qualifying Exam attempt is unsuccessful, the student may be dismissed from the program.
Students should submit the fully completed DMA Qualifying Examination Report Form to Graduate Services after they pass the Written Performance Area Exam and Oral Exam.
DMA Qualifying Examination Report Form